United win overshadowed by Suarez-Evra spat

Manchester United's Patrice Evra, centre right, attempts to shake hands with Liverpool's Luis Suarez during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. Suarez refused to shake the hand of the Manchester United defender Evra, their first meeting since the Liverpool forward was banned for eight matches for racially abusing Evra in October 2011.(AP Photo/Jon Super)
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Manchester United's Patrice Evra, centre right, attempts to shake hands with Liverpool's Luis Suarez during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. Suarez refused to shake the hand of the Manchester United defender Evra, their first meeting since the Liverpool forward was banned for eight matches for racially abusing Evra in October 2011.(AP Photo/Jon Super)
/ AP

Liverpool's Luis Suarez walks from the pitch after his team's 2-1 loss at Manchester United in their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Jon Super)— AP

Liverpool's Luis Suarez walks from the pitch after his team's 2-1 loss at Manchester United in their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
/ AP

Manchester United's Patrice Evra, right, attempts to shake hands with Liverpool's Luis Suarez, left, during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. Suarez refused to shake the hand of the Manchester United defender Evra, their first meeting since the Liverpool forward was banned for eight matches for racially abusing Evra in October 2011.(AP Photo/Jon Super)— AP

Manchester United's Patrice Evra, right, attempts to shake hands with Liverpool's Luis Suarez, left, during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. Suarez refused to shake the hand of the Manchester United defender Evra, their first meeting since the Liverpool forward was banned for eight matches for racially abusing Evra in October 2011.(AP Photo/Jon Super)
/ AP

LONDON 
Luis Suarez's refusal to shake hands with Patrice Evra overshadowed Manchester United's 2-1 win over rival Liverpool that lifted the defending champions to first place in the Premier League on Saturday.

Wayne Rooney scored twice for the second straight match to guide United to victory at Old Trafford. But all the focus was on the pre-match handshake that never happened, inflaming tensions between England's two most successful clubs.

Starting his first match since serving an eight-game ban for racially abusing Evra during a league match at Anfield on Oct. 15, Suarez withdrew his hand as the France defender put forward his in the traditional ritual before kickoff.

"He is a disgrace to Liverpool Football Club," United manager Alex Ferguson. "He shouldn't be able to play for Liverpool again."

Police and stewards reportedly had to intervene as players from both teams clashed outside the locker rooms at halftime after Evra chased Suarez down the tunnel.

Evra then appeared to attempt to provoke Suarez with exuberant post-match celebrations on the field in front of the Uruguay striker, also forcing police officers to intervene.

Amid the mayhem, United managed to take an overnight lead in the standings, tightening the pressure on Manchester City ahead of its trip to Aston Villa on Sunday.

Third-place Tottenham stayed five points behind United by thrashing Newcastle 5-0 at home, while the fight for fourth place intensified following Chelsea's 2-0 loss at Everton and Arsenal's 2-1 victory at Sunderland.

Thierry Henry scored a stoppage-time winner in his final league game on loan for Arsenal, which climbed above Chelsea on goals scored. The two teams, who are four points ahead of seventh-place Liverpool, have the same goal difference.

"I know it was the last game in the Premier League and I wanted to say thanks," Henry said. "I felt just like a kid who scores his first goal for the team he loves."

Steven Pienaar and Denis Stracqualursi scored Everton's goals as Chelsea extended its winless run to four matches and threatened the club's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League. Landon Donovan fed Stracqualursi with a through ball for the second goal, Donovan's fifth assist during his loan from Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy.

U.S. midfielder Clint Dempsey played a part in Fulham's second goal in its 2-1 win against Stoke. Dempsey's long shot hit the bar, struck Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen and rebounded into the net.

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PARIS (AP) - American striker Charlie Davies made his return for Sochaux after an absence of more than two years in a 1-0 loss at Rennes in the French league.

Davies came on in the 78th minute as a replacement for Abdoul Camara and shot off target with two minutes left.

He had not played for Sochaux since Oct. 3, 2009, at home against Le Mans. Ten days later, he was a passenger in a car accident in which another passenger died. Davies was left with two broken bones in his right leg, a broken and dislocated left elbow, a broken nose, forehead and eye socket, a ruptured bladder and bleeding on the brain.